Describes how to install, upgrade, downgrade, and manage Cisco IOS XE Catalyst SD-WAN device software, including supported platforms, image compatibility, autonomous versus controller modes, onboarding workflows, and SD-WAN Manager or CLI upgrade procedures. It also covers upgrade considerations, restrictions, rollback guidance, mode changes, Smart Licensing restoration, and platform-specific installation details.
Feature history: Device software installation and upgrade
Describes the development of features for installing and upgrading the software of network devices, by release.
Device software installation
Describes details of installing software for devices operating in a Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN fabric, Cisco IOS XE 17.2.1r and later.
Software installation for Cisco IOS XE routers
Software installation for different platforms, in the context of Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN.
Plug and Play onboarding
Information about onboarding devices through Cisco Plug and Play.
Plug and Play onboarding workflow
Steps for onboarding devices to Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN using Plug and Play.
Non-Plug and Play onboarding
How to onboard devices to Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN without using Plug and Play (PnP).
Mode discovery and mode change with a bootstrap file
Explains mode discovery and mode change with a bootstrap file.
Reset a device to a Controller mode day zero configuration using CLI commands
Describes how to reset a device to a Controller mode day zero configuration using a CLI command.
Configuration persistence during mode switch
Configuration retention and erasure when switching a device between Autonomous and Controller modes.
Verifying Controller and Autonomous modes
The show commands to use on a device to verify Controller or Autonomous mode.
Change the console port access after installation, in Controller mode
This procedure changes the method for connecting to the console to access a Cisco CSR1000V or Cisco Catalyst 8000V software device.
Upgrading devices
Information about upgrading devices using SD-WAN Manager or CLI commands.
Downgrading a device from Cisco IOS XE Catalyst SD-WAN Release 17.2.1r or later releases
Procedures for downgrading device software.
Supported device downgrades
Describes behavior in device downgrade scenarios.
Restoring Smart Licensing after switching modes
Restoring Smart Licensing authorization lost when a device switches from Autonomous to Controller mode.